lundi 18 août 2014

Why Are Processed Foods Unhealthy?

By Cliff Walsh


Americans received a failing grade from the USDA based on the healthiness of our eating habits at home. Even more unfortunate than that is the fact that it is more difficult to eat well when dining out, and nearly half of Americans frequent fast-food chains and a quarter of us eat outside the home at least once a week, according to a variety of research.

Unfortunately, Americans have chosen fast and cheap over quality. This means highly processed foods with low-cost, unhealthy ingredients with long shelf lives. The most concerning processed foods are those with dangerous chemicals added to them to add flavor, texture, sweetness, or to preserve the so-called integrity of the product. The typical processed food contains unhealthy amounts of fat, sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other dangerous ingredients, many of which we don't know the long-term risks about. It is easy to see something has gone wrong when you look at the substantial rise in health issues among Americans in recent years.

The processed foods that carry these health risks are not dangerous only because of their lack of nutritional content or the chemical exposure, but also because they can be addicting as well. Some of the artificial sweeteners are so strong that our brains can't handle the impact. They can also have a damaging effect on the brain such as neurotoxicity, as well as other troublesome conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's.

It begs the question as to how these chemicals made it into our food? Although many believe that the government provides solid oversight of the chemicals used in our food and consumer products, that is not the case at all. The current structure basically allows the food manufacturer or chemical company to greenlight its own formulations and gives little power to the FDA to stop them, even when significant risks arise. The process makes zero sense and puts us all at risk.

I prefer my food grown in nature rather than created in a chemistry lab. The unknown long-term effects of these chemical concoctions should give everyone pause (and don't get me started on genetically-modified organisms or GMOs). Why are Americans poisoning themselves? Ignorance? Short-term convenience? To save money? We need to pay closer attention to what we are putting in our bodies and stop listening to the food companies when they tell us about a new superfood or that something is good for us. They want your money. Your health is not their concern.

In order to understand what you're putting into your body, you need to learn to read food ingredient labels. If you can't understand the words or the list is too long, it's probably not good for you. The best approach to healthy eating and eliminating dangerous toxins from your diet is to eat organic, whole foods, lean poultry, meat, and fish, as well as healthy fats.




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